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About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . McElroy raped a 12-year-old girl and, to avoid statutory rape charges, he divorced his wife at the time and married the child when she was 14 and pregnant with their baby. In a trial for shooting a Skidmore man in 1976 two witnesses appeared saying they had been with McElroy hunting miles away from the scene. Luckily, Bowenkamp survived, and McElroy was charged with attempted murder. Its been over 30 years. A reported crowd of up to 60 men had largely dispersed, but some onlookers remained, staring at the pickup. Born in 1934, Ken Rex McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. If they thought it was getting too out of hand, they would send one of us up and down the aisle. The final straw for Skidmore was when he was let out on bond. It cruised up the street, came back and just sat there for 20 seconds, says Boyer, adding he couldnt prove it was McElroy but waited behind a tree with his shotgun just in case. For example, one of the owners of the D&G tavern would send her young children to the grocery store for paper towels, keeping the children innocently unaware they were telegraphing an urgent message for the Bowenkamps to call the police. Refusing to argue, he and Lois went home. The murder occurred in broad daylight, with as many as sixty eye-witnesses present . Unsolved 'Vigilante' Murder in the Heartland: Missouri Town Goes Quiet After Bully Is Shot, https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/ken-rex-mcelroy-vigilante-murder-skidmore-unsolved. They settle in Skidmore. It was so out of the blue, almost to the point of being surreal, said Monte, who occasionally worked in her parents store. It was also the first major case for a young county prosecutor, not far removed from law school and just months into the job, who said he was confident that the case would be solved soon. Within a few years, she had had four children by him. It was a misunderstanding, but one that made the Bowenkamps lives a living hell for months. Mable was born on February 28 1897, in Dover, Shawnee County, KS, USA. [6] Trena and her baby were placed in foster care at a home in Maryville, Missouri. Then McElroy, described by veteran journalist Phil Conger as a big brute of a guy with slicked-back hair like Elvis, took the stand. The group heard McElroy and Trena McCloud were spotted heading to the tavern nearby. The story was thrust back to the forefront this month by No One Saw a Thing, a six-part Sundance TV docu-series exploring the moral ambiguity of frontier justice and the unspoken, yet universally intriguing, question: When, if ever, does someone like McElroy deserve to die? Boyer was taking trajectory measurements at the crime scene when a town official chided him. Few were criticized as mightily as Baird over the lack of prosecution in McElroys murder. One account even said that McElroy rode into town on a horse and was shot and killed, Baird, the former prosecutor, said. McElroys rear window was shot out and the front window as well. They could have pushed and dug, pushed and dug and gotten nothing, said Huston. However, an incident would occur in 1980 that changed everything. Ken Rex McElroy sat in his truck for over an hour before the law was called. Additional charges were filed against McElroy.[7]. Investigators found shell casings from two weapons a .22-caliber Magnum rifle and an 8 mm Mauser, a German World War I-era long-range rifle. [2] He was struck by bullets from at least two different firearms, in front of a crowd of people estimated as numbering between 30 and 46. Yet in a conspiracy of silence that has spanned the past 38 years, the townsfolk have held the secret close. Still working within the justice system, witnesses who saw McElroy with the gun gave the information the county prosecutor needed to request a bond revocation hearing. Now, nearly 30 years later, that prosecutor, David A. Baird, is preparing to leave office with his first and most famous case still unsolved. Once, a farmer who caught Ken red-handed stealing two horses filed charges but withdrew them after McElroy smashed him across the face with a rifle., Police also felt McElroys ire. McElroy escaped jail on an appeal bond and could remain free until he exhausted his appeals, free to taunt his victims with what had become painfully clear: He would never go to jail. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. They could finally sleep peacefully at night, especially Bo and Lois Bowenkamp and their children. Just to be aware, he explained. But justice is a loaded term in a case that challenges the usual assumptions of victim and perpetrator. 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After dropping out of school in the eighth grade, it didnt take long for Ken McElroy to fall into a life of delinquency. The clerk, Evelyn Sumy, was at the back of the store when the doors swung open. Ken Rex McElroy 1934-1981. You know how he oppressed and threatened us. SKIDMORE, Mo. As Trena told the story to reporters, a group of men followed them as they left the D&G. Ken is later charged and arrested. McElroy four years earlier had pumped a couple of rounds of buckshot into the stomach of local farmer Romaine Henry as he tried to run the blackguard off his land. BuzzFeed McElroy allegedly stole livestock, grain, gasoline,. I heard shooting and got down. Ken Rex McElroy was shot dead in Skidmore, Missouri on July 10, 1981. We went to the courts. The murder took place on July 10, 1981, the day after McElroy had threatened Bowenkamp at the tavern. It was a commemoration of sorts: thirty years ago to the day after Ken Rex McElroy had been shot to death as he sat in his truck on the main street of . Weighing in at approximately 270 pounds with bushy black sideburns, McElroy held the entire . That became the pattern. Ken stalks the family afterwards, and on the 8th, Ken shoots Bo Bowenkamp. Ken McElroy died in a hail of gunfire on the morning of July 10, 1981, while sitting in his truck outside a local tavern. The police would not or could not help us or Skidmore. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. Over the course of his life, McElroy was accused of dozens of felonies, including assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary. The meeting broke up after participants learned McElroy and Trena were at the D&G Tavern. What could legally be done about McElroy, they asked Sheriff Danny Estes, who had been elected months earlier. He was nonplussed. He showed up to the towns local bar, armed with a rifle and bayonet, threatening to kill the elderly grocer. Five or six of us were standing in front of the Skidmore Caf, waiting and passing the time. Carjackers Steal More Cars Many With Kids Still Inside, After Indulgent Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday Signals Abstinence, Fasting. This past weekend marked the 40th anniversary of the killing of Ken Rex McElroy of Skidmore. 1952: Ken McElroy marries his first wife Oleta. Filmmaker Avi Belkin's 'No One Saw a Thing . For over twenty years he raped, robbed and burned almost at will. Bullet casings from two guns were found. So what was left?. His lifelong career as a criminal started with petty offenses, but he increasingly became more violent, amassing a rap sheet that included nearly two dozen felony charges for assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, burglary, grain theft, and hog and cattle rustling enterprises that kept a thick roll of hundred-dollar bills in his pocket. His father was a tenant farmer, his mother a housewife swamped with feeding and caring for the sprawling family. McElroy's appeal hearing was again delayed. Absolutely not, he said. Two people decided in the midst of that whole incident theyd had enough, MacLean said. A man who turned out to be McElroy pointed a shotgun at me, Margaret tells A&E True Crime. Ken McElroy was born in 1934, one of 16 children, author Harry MacLean explains in his book In Broad Daylight, an account of the case. Instead of playing out in court, the details emerged in newspaper and magazine accounts, as well as a best-selling book, In Broad Daylight: A Murder in Skidmore, Missouri, which was later made into a television movie. The objective is to promote history on Medium and demonstrate the value of historical writing. There is pretty much nothing in existence that was not stolen by McElroy during his 47 years. Still, the panel didnt return an indictment, giving rise to conspiracy theories about a law enforcement coverup, also a theme in No One Saw a Thing.. Then, on a warm July night, McElroy shot my dad as he sat on the back loading dock of his store, waiting for an air conditioner repairman, Monte said. One reason was McElroys lawyer Richard Gene McFadin, a skilled defense attorney who ran rings around inexperienced prosecutors. As the story has been told by MacLean and others, McElroy showed up at the D&G tavern and pool hall the next day toting a rifle with a bayonet a violation of his bond and threatened to finish off the Bowenkamps. McElroy divorced Alice and married Trena in order to escape charges of statutory rape, to which she was the only witness. According to a report, no one called an ambulance. August 18th, 1980: Ken's preliminary trial begins. Another was McElroys intimidation tactics, MacLean writes. The people of the town keep their heads down and prefer to not speak about the incident. McElroy eventually left the tavern and got into his pickup truck with his wife, but the mob of people followed the pair outside. He was freed on bond. After the sheriff left town, the group walked from the hall and went down the street to the tavern. Never miss a story by signing up for the newsletter now. When you didnt know where he was, you didnt dare take the chance of not being on your guard.. Over the course of his life, McElroy was accused of dozens of felonies, including assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary. "[13], McElroy was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Only July 10, 1981, there was a meeting at the town hall, down the street from D&G Tavern. As many as 60 people were reported to have been at the scene, but not one of them would say who had wielded the weapons. Reporting on what you care about. A couple of men hustled Trena to a nearby bank, away from the gunfire. Hed leave, then hed come back, Monte said. More awful crimes have taken place in the small town. It went beyond just hammering people and being mean-spirited. Nobody wanted to talk to us, retired Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Boyer tells A&E True Crime. Dunbar talked to him, and [McElroy] pulled a gun on him, Monte said. We had shoplifting, but a lot of people were on hard times. On July 8, 1980, McElroy drove to the alley behind the Bowenkamp general store. Its probably accurate that few outside of McElroys family shed tears over his death, but many Skidmore residents still struggle with the spectacle of a man violently and publicly killed. He went back home and was shot within a couple of days, explains Conger, editor of the Bethany Republican-Clipper. He had a legendary status, and it all got to be bigger than he was. McElroy would just sit and glower at you just stare at you and youd never know what he was thinking.. Nobody called an ambulance. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy took place in plain view of dozens of residents of this small farm town, under the glare of the morning sun. [11] Only Trena claimed to identify a gunman; every other witness either was unable to name an assailant or claimed not to have seen who fired the fatal shots. The townspeople organized a caravan to escort the witnesses to the hearing both to protect them and to show solidarity. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. We didnt have sufficient evidence to go to trial.. McElroy burned down the girls home and shot her familys dog to force her parents to agree to the marriage. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy took place in plain view of dozens of residents of this small farm town, under the glare of the morning sun. It's hard to believe that this small town was once a bustlingcommunity. Trena claimed to have seen someone pull a rifle from the back of the truck, take aim at McElroy, and fire shots that shattered the truck's windows. There wasnt much parental supervision, but McElroy had a knack for taking care of himself. On July 10th, 1981 Ken Rex McElroy was shot dead in the street in broad daylight infront of 60 witnesses. McCloud was McElroy's third "wife," though all unions were suspicious due to the fact that some of his marriages overlapped. Those who witnessed the killing didnt speak of it again, not because they were part of a conspiracy, MacLean believes, but because theyre stoic by nature. The towns local bar in Skidmore, Missouri. I got in the car and was shaking so bad.. Instead, he continued to harass Bowenkamp. McElory was struck by two different firearms and died behind the wheel of his truck. By the time McElroy was shot dead under the glare of the morning sun on July 10, 1981, everybody feared his hair-trigger temper and brooding presence. What started with hunting raccoons escalated into petty crime until McElroy ultimately emerged as a full-fledged criminal. The police chief who oversaw the investigation, Hal Riddle, disagrees. A memorial in the tiny downtown park displays the name of an expectant mother murdered six years ago, her fetus cut from her womb. How could it? He showed back up in front of their house that night, and he and Trena sat there and watched them, Monte said. [1] McElroy successfully appealed the conviction and was released on bond, after which he engaged in an ongoing harassment campaign against Bowenkamp and others who were sympathetic to Bowenkamp, including the town's Church of Christ minister. There were plenty of eyewitnesses, as well as the attack happened in broad. A bond hearing was ordered. He was known as "the town bully", [1] and his unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. I didnt know what to do. McElroy wound up shooting Bowenkamp in the neck, nearly killing him. Evelyn lived cross the street, and he made sure she could see them. Estes, the sheriff some tried to implicate in a conspiracy, is dead. As he packed up his office last week, he gave his successor a memo that listed a dozen or so unsolved cases in Nodaway County including, down toward the end, the killing of Mr. McElroy. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. Born in 1934, Ken Rex McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. A writer and storyteller out in the world to write about True-Crime and History. As his long tenure comes to an end questions about the lack of resolution in the murder case perhaps the most infamous in the area since Jesse James was shot nearby a century earlier continue to follow Mr. Baird. E-mail: ramzywritersofficial@gmail.com. The last three decades have been tough on this agricultural community of 342, about an hour and a half north of Kansas City. There may never be an answer to the question of who killed Ken Rex McElroy. The case inspired a book, In Broad Daylight by Harry McLean, and a 1991 TV movie of the same name starring Brian Dennehy. September 2nd, 1982: Keven though there were over sixty witnesses, no one came forward to name the shooter. Skidmore townsfolk may not all have liked how he was killed it was murder, after all but when he died, most of the towns 435 residents let out a heavy sigh of relief. This was something that the "town bully," Ken Rex McElroy, staunchly rebelled against. After McElroy finished his drinks, he purchased a six pack of beer, left the bar, and entered his pickup truck. It's hard to believe that this small town was once a bustlingcommunity. Bullet casings from two different guns were found. And despite there being dozens of witnesses, no one has ever been arrested or charged in connection with McElroys murder. His foot fell to the accelerator when he was shot, causing the engine to run at full bore. If we could have proved who done it, he would have prosecuted him, said Mr. Riddle, 72 and also retired, who describes the case as the most frustrating of his career. Tell us what you think in the comments below. No one called for an ambulance. July 1981: During the 1st week of July it was announced that there would be a delay in McElroy's bond hearing. He grew up hearing the story. There's a long list of crimes said to have been committed by McElroy, including shooting multiple people. He was known as the town bully , but they may be putting it mildly. Somebody would hear his name, and the legend grew bigger. But if tried by a jury of their peers, I doubt anybody around here would have convicted the shooters. In 1980, McElroy shot the 70-year-old town grocer in the neck following a months-old dispute over an accusation about a piece of stolen candy. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! He dropped out of school before he reached high school, and by 13 was already a familiar character to the cops around Nodaway County. Police had charged him with various alleged crimes from stealing hogs to assault, but nothing stuck. No one was ever accused of shoplifting, or stealing. Known as 'the town bully', his unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. Joyce Monte, daughter of injured grocer. Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Richard Stratton, the only lawman in northwest Missouri ever known to stand up to McElroy, hunted McElroy down and arrested him on an attempted murder charge. When the news that Ken and Trena went to the local bar that evening, everyone got up and made their way over. Many buildings are closed and falling apart. The people of Skidmore were becoming more and more frustrated with the failures to protect them in the justice system. The story of Ken Rex McElroy began on June 1, 1934. And he has already asked the sheriffs office to re-examine some of the unsolved cases. Boyer was among the first responders to arrive outside the D&G tavern where McElroy was ambushed. The objective is to promote history on Medium and demonstrate the value of historical writing. I didnt see anything. He would intimidate anyone who got in his way, usually by repeatedly harassing them or threatening them with a bullet. McElroy was known to have stolen grain, alcohol, gasoline, antiques, and even livestock. McElroy was accused of raping two young women, as young as 12 years old, both of whom he was said to have "married" to keep them from testifying against him. As he sat drinking at the bar, word got back to the men at the Legion Hall that he was in town. Investigators dug and dug, but Skidmore residents maintained their silence. In July 1976, McElroy pulled a shotgun on farmer Romaine Henry and shot the man in the stomach. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Someone warned her, Youre about to meet Ken Rex McElroy, Monte said. The town has seen more than its share of tragedy. Anyone can read what you share. They sacrificed one for the betterment of hundreds. If you liked reading this story on Ken McElroy, the bully who was killed by his town, check out the story of Budford Pussers cold-blooded revenge. McElroy made a living leasing land near his farm, and trading and racing dogs. 2023 by Catlyn Brady, Jennifer Partridge, & Kara Severson. He testified that Bowenkamp attacked him with a knife and he acted in self-defense, MacLean writes. There were as many as 60 witnesses, yet the crime remains unsolved. But unless a very credible witness came forward, its not likely to happen., The Burger Chef Cold Case: Four Murders Still Unsolved Over 40 Years Later. Yet the identity of McElroys killer is a public secret Skidmore has kept for 38 years. She eventually filed a wrongful death against the town, the county, and some citizens but the matter was settled out of court. Worse felonies included assault and arson. Those who spoke out were taciturn. Retaliation would be severe. In all, he was indicted 21 times but escaped conviction each time, except for the last. The bar soon filled completely. [Stream episodes of Accused: Guilty or Innocent? The justice system just crashed and burned over this case.. No one bothered to turn it off. Estes then drove out of town in his police cruiser. Many buildings are closed and falling apart. How did this uneducated person how is he able to outwit the criminal justice system for 20 years? said MacLean. Del Clement, the man Trena named as McElroys killer, died of cirrhosis of the liver in 2009. In the end, fear is what killed him, Goslee said. They had to look out for themselves. 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Trena McElroy fingered a local rancher as one of the gunmen, but he denied the claim. According to reports, some 50 people were outside the tavern when the shooting started. Biography Mini Bio (1) Ken Rex McElroy Jr. is known for No One Saw a Thing (2019). Henry was forced to admit in court, under questioning by McElroy's attorney Richard Gene McFadin, that he had concealed his own petty criminal conviction from more than 30 years previous. I have no doubt hed have tried to kill my mom. McElroy was convicted of assault but let out of jail awaiting appeal. 1964: Ken meets another girlfriend named Alice Wood. Women had a harder time with it than the men. In 1981, McElroy was convicted of shooting . McElroys wife named one person as a possible gunman, but no one couldor wouldidentify who fired the shots. No one has ever been brought to trial in Mr. McElroys death, and, although there is no statute of limitations on murder, most people around here suspect that no one ever will be. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8iUdp33PqTsix2sGblEQZ8m5FQycC5D Vigilante justice, or. SKIDMORE, Mo. I am a History Educator and a Lifelong Learner with a Masters in Global History. Sheriff Estes instructed the assembled group not to get into a direct confrontation with McElroy, but instead seriously consider forming a neighborhood watch program. The man asked, what are you doing here? Boyer remembers. The man identified by the widow as the main gunman recently died, something Mr. Baird raised in suggesting that the case may never be reopened.

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